Ministers row back on private school threat

Theresa May has been forced into another U-turn after she was made to back down over plans to strongarm the private school sector into helping state schools.

Ministers have rowed back on their threats to scrap private schools’ charitable status if they do not work with nearby state schools, despite it being a central policy in the Conservative manifesto.

The document, along with an earlier Government green paper, set out plans to force private schools to sponsor an academy, forge formal partnerships with state schools or offer bursaries to pupils.

Stripped of charitable status

Failure to do so would lead to private schools being stripped of their charitable status, which provides the sector with significant tax breaks, the Government had warned.

But in a far more conciliatory tone, Education Secretary Justine Greening said she wanted to celebrate the work already taking place between fee-paying and state schools, adding that much of this is “hidden under a bushel”.

“The benefits of partnership cut both ways,” she said.

“The word you will hear a lot of today is partnership. We have to do it working together. We as a government also recognise that different independent schools will be able to bring different things to working in partnership and that we shouldn’t necessarily expect the same from all schools.”

This she said could mean independent schools becoming sponsors, but could also lead to sharing governance or other leadership roles.

On the same page

In a further shift in tone, Schools Minister Lord Nash said: “We’ve had some really good discussions over the last few months with the Independent Schools Council about how we can work together.

“I think it feels from today that we’re all on the same page.”

The Government has published a briefing note entitled Independent and State Schools Working Together, formalising the watering down of the policy.

Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council, welcomed the move from ministers.

Mr Lenon, who previously served as headmaster of Harrow School, said collaborations between the two work best when there is a “moral responsibility” and schools are working together.

“Partnerships work less well when people think that an independent school can take on a failing state school in a disadvantaged area when, in fact, it’s got no relevant expertise,” he said.

May’s plans in tatters

“Partnerships work less well when the only motivation has got something to do with charitable status or acting under perceived pressure from a government.”

But Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary Layla Moran said the Prime Minister’s plans for a society that works for everyone “now lies in tatters”.

“If private schools are to get tax breaks, they need to prove they deserve them,” Ms Moran said. “This is an example of the Tories helping their friends and not those who need it the most.”

iNews

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